Vest-pocket hypodermic-syringe container



Jun 25,-, 1929; D. 1.. OSULLIVAN VEST POCKET HYPODERHIC SYRINGECONTAINER Filed April 5, 1929 [N VENT 0R.

Patented June 25, I929. a 1- UNITED: STATES DAVID LEE OSULLIVAN, OF NEW"YORK, N Y.

VESTJOGKET HYPODERMIC-SYRINGE' CONTAINER.

Application filed April 5, 1929. Serial No. 352,704;

This invention relates to containers or casings for hypodermic syringes.r.

A container for a hypodermic syringe should fulfill a number ofrequirements, 5 which are occasioned both by the nature of thehypodermic syringe itself and by the use to which itis put. Hypodermicsyrlnges as ordinarily on the market are made wlth aglass barrel, aglass plungerand a metal tip detachable from the barrel. Both the glassparts and the metal tip are easily broken, and it is necessary,thereforeythat 1n carryingthem they be protectedtrom injury. Hypodcrmicsyringes are, of course, used to administer various drugs directly intothe body, audit is of prime importance that they be strictly sterile.Ordinarily this sterility is secured by boiling the syringe or1mmersingit*in alcohol or other antiseptic soliitioniinniecliatcly previous tothe time it is used.

Inasmuch asuthe hypodermic syringe has become one ofthe most essentialinstruments in emergency cases, it is important that some means beprovided for carrying the syringe in asaife, sterile andconvenientmanner. It is important that it be carried conveniently inorder that the doctor may have it wlth him at all times. It isimportant, moreover, that the doctor; have with him not only the syringebut the necessary drugs, and any container for thesyringe shouldtherefore provide some meansof holding the necessary drugs separate andapart from the syringe.

So far as I am aware, there has never been a container for a hypodermicsyringe that combines these qualities. Somecontainers which have beenproposed are bulky and not adapted to be conveniently carried at alltimes; others are mere carrying cases which do notkeep the syringesterile others which domaintain the syringe partsterile containantiseptic fluids which are likely to spill andmake the use of thesyringe inconvenient, and at times even u-nsterile.

The object of this invention, therefore, is toprovidc a compact formofcontainer for a hypodermic syringe and the drugs to be used therewithwhich will protect the syringe and preventit from brealmge while itisbeing carried, which will maintain it at all times sterile and yet readyfor instant use without destroying the sterility, and

which is of a size and-shape that it may be conveniently carried in avestpocket in the manner ofatountain pen so thatit may be carried at alltimes;

I accomplish this objcctby providing a rigid containerhavingthreecompartmentsone for the needletip, one for the glass barrel and plunger,and the other for the drugs-and shaped substantially like" a foun-L tainpen. The compartment containing the tip may be especially shapedtoretainfthe tip, but isdesigned to be attached to the compartmentcontaining the barrel and plunger so that an airtight oint is .formed.This end is, of course, preferably accomplished by merelyscrewing'thetwo parts together; The compartment containingthe drugs-is alsopreferablyattached at the other end of the compartment containing thebar relandplunger'by a screw threadforming an airtightjoint. l

The syringe is h el'd disassembled in two compartinents rather thanassemblednin one compartment, because this facilitates its usewithoutlilreliheod of contamination. By the construction which Iprovide", thezsyringe barrelmay be attached to the needle tip, which isheld in its propercompartment all without ever touching the" needletip..

The permanentsterility of the syringe is maintained by the airtightjoint, which con nects the twocompartments containingythe syringe parts.When the syringe andcontainer areonce sterilized in the doctors officeand the syringe is placedlund'er sterile conditio-ns-within thecompartments of'th'e container' and thetwo compartments lockedtogetheiythe syringe willhe maintained in a sterile condition for anindefinite period of time.

An embodiment ofmy invention is shown, by way of example, in thedrawing, in which Fig." 1 re n'esents a sectional elevation: ofthecontainer showingthe positions of the needle, the syringe b'arrcl andthe vials for the dru 's line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the cells forstoring the drug vials;

' the main body portion 11 is sealed by a cap 12, which is adapted toreceive and retain the hypodermic needle 14. The needle 14 is held inthe cap 12 by means of the shoulders 17 formed in the cap and clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The hollow member 13 is attached in a convenientmanner to the closed end of the main body portion 11. The member 13 isprovided with cells or compartments 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and t 4. Thecells 18 are adapted to receive the drug vials which contain the drugsto be used wlth the hypoderm1c syringe. In case it Is desired to usedrugs which are prepared .in the form of tablets or in any other form.

an. alternative form of hollow member 19, shown in Fig. 5, may besubstituted for the member 13.

The container is composed of any suitable material, such as aluminum,bakelite,

rd rubber, etc., which will permit of an effective seal between thebarrel 11 and its closure cap 12. There should be a lock joint betweenthe cap 12 and the barrel 11, and this may be effected by a screw threadjoint 20, as shown in the drawing, or any other suitable means. I 1

In preparing the container for use, the barrel 11, cap 12, hypodermicneedle and barrel. are sterilized, for instance by boiling in water. Thehypodermic needle 14 is inserted in the cap 12 by means of somesterilized instrument, and is turned so that the lower end of the needlewill engage the shoulders 17 and be retained in the cap thereby. The,syringe barrel 15 is then placed in the main body portion or barrel .11with the-nipple 21, atvthe bottom of the barrel 11. The cap 14 is thenscrewed into the barrel 11, thus sealing the container. The hypodermicneedle and barrel thus 5 5 sealedare kept indefinitely in a sterilecondition and can be used after long periods with .out danger. ofinfection.v

The drug vials 16 are placed in the member 13, or the drug tablets orsolution are placed in the member 19, and one or the other isconnectedto the closed end of the barrelll.

The container 10 is now completely assem bled and contains all thenecessary equipment for a hypodermic injection in an aseptic condition.The container 1s small and compact and may be easily carried in a vestpocket.

In service when it is desired to use the hypodermic syringe, the cap 12is unscrewed from the barrel 11. As the needle is held in the cap 12 bythe shoulders 17. no particular care is needed in this operation. Thesyringe barrel 15 is then removed from the barrel 11 and the nipple 21on the syringe barrel 15 is inserted into the lower end of the needle14, which is still in the cap 12. The needle 14 is then turned byrotating the syringe barrel 15, thus disengaging the lower end of theneedle 14 from the shoulders 17 and permitting the removal of the cap12.

The hypodermic syringe is now assembled and is filled with the drugscontained in member 13 or 19, as the case may be by removing the plunger22 from the syringe barrel 15 and pouring the liquid drug therein. Theplunger 22 is then replaced and the syringe is ready for use.

In assembling the syringe, neither the needle 14 nor the nipple 21 istouched by hands or instruments, thus eliminating all danger ofcontamination or infection.

I claim:

1. In a hypodermic syringe container adapted to protect a syringe frombreakage, maintain it in a sterile condition and serve as a holder forthe needle to permit convenient assembly of the syringe withoutcontamination of the syringe, comprising an open-ended receptacle forthe syringe barrel, a closure member for said receptacle adapted toreceive the hypodermic needle, and means within said closure member forretaining the hypodermic needle within said member.

2. A hypodermic syringe container adapted to protect a syringe frombreakage, maintain it in a sterile condition and serve as a holder forthe needle to permit convenient assembly of the syringe withoutcontamination of the syringe, comprising an openended receptacle for thesyringe barrel, a closure member for said receptacle adapted to receivethe hypodermic needle, and means within said closure member forretaining the hypodermic needle within said member, said receptacle andclosure member being provided with means for forming an airtight seal.

3. A hypodermic syringe container adapted to protect a syringe frombreakage, malntain it in a sterile condition and serve as a holder forthe needle to permit convenient assembly of the syringe withoutcontamination of the syringe, comprising a closed tube separableintermediate its extremities, one of the separable portions of said tubehaving a cavity formed approximately to the shape of the syringe barrel,the other of the separable portions having a cavity formed approximatelyto the shape of the syringe needle, and means on the separable portionadapted to receive the syringe needle for retaining the syringe needleWithin said portion.

4. A hypodermic syringe container comprising a closed tube separableintermediate its extremities, each separable portion of said tube beingformed of one piece, said separable portions having cavitiesrespectively formed approximately to the shape of the syringe barrel andthe syringe needle, said cavities decreasing progressively in diameterfrom the point of separation of said separable portions to prevent thesyringe parts from being inserted into said cavities except in themanner desired and to render said cavities more accessible for cleaning,and means on said separable portions adapted to form an airtight sealbetween said separable portions, the separable portion formed approximately to the shape of the syringe needle being constructed toeffect a maintenance of the needle so that the barrel may be attached tothe needle before the needle is removed from said portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVID LEE OSULLIVAN.

